No leadership change on cards for Odisha Congress

A day after PCC President Prasad Harichandan met AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, party’s Odisha in-charge BK Hariprasad today ruled out possibilities of a change of guard in Odisha Congress.

“No talks have been held regarding a change of guard in PCC. There are no vacancies to make others PCC chief. Discussions, however, were held regarding party affairs,” said Hariprasad speaking about PCC Chief Prasad Harichandan’s meeting with Gandhi.

Harichandan, on the other hand, didn’t reveal the specifics of his discussion with the AICC Vice President pertaining to demands of leadership change in PCC.

“I discussed organisational affairs with the Vice President yesterday. Beyond that, I will not be able to brief the media when it comes to the organisational matters. However, I can tell you that we held a detailed discussion pertaining to the upcoming panchayat polls. He made some valuable suggestions to strengthen the party in the state. We will implement them,” said Prasad.

He further refused to make a statement on the meetings held by the MLAs of his party in New Delhi seeking a change in top leadership in the state.

“Congress is not divided. We stand together. It is media that is hyping up certain statements. So far as private meetings of some of the leaders are considered, it will not be appropriate for me to make a comment. We are in the opposition and it is important for us to stick together and work together in the interest of Odisha,” he added.

Notably, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra met Rahul Gandhi twice during a recent tour of New Delhi seeking a change of leadership as we reported here. All 16 MLAs of Odisha Congress were part of the delegation in one of these meetings.